My Monorail Resort Rankings

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I recently stayed at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which means I have now stayed at all 3 resorts on the WDW monorail route! Today, I will provide brief explanations of each and share my personal rankings of these resorts in 5 categories: transportation, dining, rooms, amenities, and crowds.

A metallic art display of Mickey Mouse is seen surrounded by green foliage and pink and red flowers at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

The transportation category will focus on getting to and from the parks using Disney transportation (or walking if that’s an option). Dining will focus on the variety of food options, the quality of the food, and the availability to order. Rooms will focus on decor and layouts. Amenities will focus on the pools, shopping options, entertainment, and activities offered, as well as whether the resort offers a community hall. Crowds will rate how crowded the resort was at the time of my visit (1 = overly crowded, 5 = not busy at all).

The dark brown exterior of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is seen under a blue sky, with white sand and palm trees lining the Seven Seas Lagoon in front of the buildings.

These are my personal opinions, and they may very well vary from your own. That’s okay! There is no right answer to “what resort is best,” and ultimately it will come down to what works best for you and your travel party. I hope my opinions help inform your decision-making and help you choose the right resort for your next Disney adventure!

The Mary Poppins-inspired penguin fountain in the lobby of the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

 

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Transportation: 4.5/5

Dining: 3/5

Rooms: 4/5

Amenities: 3.5/5

Crowds: 2/5

Clusters of green trees and foliage are seen under a bright blue sky outside of Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Being able to walk to Magic Kingdom was a game-changer! It was so nice to walk from my villa to the park’s front gates in about 10 minutes. The monorail was a wonderful way to reach the Transportation and Ticket Center and EPCOT, and buses to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs were prompt and rarely overcrowded.

The monorail passes in front of the exterior or Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort as the sun sets over the water behind the resort.

While there are no real dining options on the Bay Lake Tower side of the property, with just a short walk over to the Contemporary Resort, you will find many options featuring classic American cuisine. While there was some variety, I found the options varied only slightly across restaurants, and there were still a lot of sandwiches and burgers. I also found that in the evenings or late at night, waits could be long, whether you ordered in person or through the mobile order feature.

Colorful signs for restaurants at Disney’s Contemporary Resort are seen as guests sit enjoying their meals, including Chef Mickey’s, Outer Rim, and Contempo Café.

The newly refurbished rooms have a cozy, nostalgic feel, adding to the classic Disney vibe with Mary Blair-inspired art featuring Walt Disney World attractions. I did find the room a bit tight when getting ready with another person in the mornings, but after some coordination, it became more manageable.

A Deluxe Studio at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The room is decorated with neutral tones and brightly colored retro-style art depicting Disney resorts and park attractions.

Bay Lake Tower is the only monorail resort to have a Community Hall. We stopped by almost every day to see what activities were happening and what movies were playing. It’s a great spot to check out if you have a rainy afternoon or are looking for something to do on a non-park rest day. Bay Lake Tower also has its own exclusive pool, available only to guests staying in the DVC Villas there; however, you can also use the two other pools on the Contemporary side. There are a few stores on the main concourse at the Contemporary Resort as well, where you can grab souvenirs and sundries.

A sign displaying activity information and operational hours for the Community Hall at Bay Lake Tower is seen.

I visited the resort in December, so the crowd levels here were higher; however, that was to be expected. One evening, when a storm rolled in, and we decided to hang out at the resort, we walked over to the Contemporary for dinner and saw huge crowds getting on and off the monorail. Now I’m not sure whether all those people were actually staying at the resort, or if some were just visiting as a warm, dry spot to avoid the weather. Either way, it was pretty busy!

 

Overall ranking: 3.75/5

 

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Transportation: 3.5/5

Dining: 4/5

Rooms: 4.5/5

Amenities: 3/5

Crowds: 4/5

The white and red exterior of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is seen under a bright blue sky from across the water of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

With the Grand Floridian being the stop before Magic Kingdom, the monorail can already be very busy by the time it arrives at the resort. The downside is that you may not be able to find a seat and have to stand. The upside is it’s usually a pretty short ride, so you’re not standing for too long. Buses to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs usually stopped at the Polynesian first (however, this can vary!), but they still weren’t overly crowded. You can walk from the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom; however, it can take upwards of 20 minutes, depending on where you are in the resort. The resort also offers boat transportation to and from Magic Kingdom, which can be a great option if you don’t want to wait for the monorail (though it will usually stop at the Polynesian first).

A white and red Disney Transport bus heading to Hollywood Studios Theme Park sits at the bus stop at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Grand Floridian has some of my favorite dining options, like Gasparilla Island Grill and the Grand Floridian Cafe. I have also had some magic moments made at the Enchanted Rose lounge. I think the resort puts the perfect twist on Floridian cuisine, keeping things fresh and innovative. The Floridian-style Eggs Benedict and Key Lime Bar at Grand Floridian Cafe are perfect examples.

Cast Members prepare to seat guests at the podium entrance to Grand Floridian Café at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

I love the rooms at the Grand Floridian! I love how bright and colorful they are. I have only stayed in a Resort Studio, but I found the room super spacious. The double sinks were great for getting ready with multiple people in the morning. I also adored the Mary Poppins details in the room.

A Resort Studio at the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The room is decorated with blue and green tones and Mary Poppins-inspired artwork and accessories.

The Grand Floridian did have activities happening by the pool and outside the main building on the grassy areas; however, this resort offers many more experiences that require an additional cost, like the Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience or treatments at the spa. The resort does offer one of my favorite shops, Basin White. Basin White specializes in body butters, bath bombs, spiced bath salts, and fresh-sliced soaps with a Disney touch! The Grand Floridian also has two pools, and one has a Mad Hatter-inspired water play area. Unfortunately, there is no community hall here.

The Alice In Wonderland-themed water play area at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa sprays water into a blue sky as the resort exterior is seen in the background.

I did find the crowds a bit busier here in the evenings; however, most guests stayed in the main lobby or the area outside Enchanted Rose, so maneuvering around the resort was still fairly easy.

 

Overall ranking: 4.5/5

 

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Transportation: 4/5

Dining: 3/5

Rooms: 3/5

Amenities: 4/5

Crowds: 1/5

 

A Tiki statue surrounded by green foliage and flowers is seen in the center of the Great Ceremonial House lobby. Multicolored lanterns hang from the glass ceiling and there are seating areas in the background.

When I stayed at the Polynesian Villas, I stayed in the Pago Pago building. It was one of the furthest buildings from the Great Ceremonial House to catch the monorail to Magic Kingdom; however, it was really close to walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center to catch the EPCOT monorail. While you can walk from the Polynesian to the Magic Kingdom, it would definitely take over 30 minutes to do so. The resort also offers boat transportation to Magic Kingdom with stops at the Grand Floridian.

Marina docks at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows are seen under a bright sunny sky. The resorts Lava Pool area can be seen to the right and the spires of Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom are seen across the water in the distance.

I do love ‘Ohana and therefore Tambu Lounge; however, I’m not personally a huge fan of the other dining options offered at the Polynesian. I’m also not a fan of Dole Whip (please don’t come for me), so this limited my options and made my dining repetitive over time. The eateries do offer many island-inspired dishes, especially at Kona Cafe, which specializes in sushi and poke bowls. 

‘Ohana dinner and allergy menus are seen on a dark wood table inside the restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bunaglows.

I did find the Deluxe Studios at the Polynesian felt dark when the curtains were closed, and it also felt like close quarters when the twin-size and queen-size pull-down beds were open at the same time. I absolutely loved the split bathroom, though, and having “my own bathroom” when sharing the villa with someone else. This made getting ready so easy in the mornings!

A Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. The Studio is decorated with dark woods, and island-inspired Disney artwork from films like Moana and Lilo & Stitch.

This resort always has something going on! There were so many activities held on the grass right outside Pineapple Lanai, and when there weren’t, someone was playing with hula hoops or a bean bag toss. I also felt like there were characters at the resort every day. I know the characters visit all the resorts; however, it felt like they were always there when I was! 

The Lava Pool was always busy with guests, activities, and music. If you like a lively pool area with plenty going on, this is the pool for you. The Oasis Pool is a great escape for those seeking a more relaxing pool experience. Shops are split across the two levels of the Great Ceremonial House, so you have to walk a bit to check everything out. While this resort does not have a Community Hall, there is still so much going on to keep you entertained.

Guests enjoy the Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows under a sunny blue sky with Cinderella Castle visible in the distance.

With the Polynesian having some of the most popular dining spots like ‘Ohana and Pineapple Lanai (the only spot to get pineapple Dole Whip outside the parks), the resort constantly seemed busy. As someone who likes to come back to the resort to take a break from the crowded parks, I don’t want my resort to also be crowded. Additionally, the main quick-service option, Capt. Cook’s feels too small to wait inside for your order when it’s busy, and it has very limited seating. I found we almost always had to mobile order and eat outside or back in our room if the weather wasn’t great.

 

Overall ranking: 3.5/5

I hope you found this information helpful in making your next Disney Vacation Club Monorail Resort selection!

The exterior of Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is seen under a blue sky.

The white exterior and red roof of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is seen during golden hour under a hazy blue and yellow sky.

Wooden deck chairs are seen on the grass outside the buildings of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows under a blue sky.

 

~Taycee

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